Motor-compressor unit



April 13, 1965 R s sa oo 3,178,102

MOTOR-COMPRESSOR UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet l 5 4 F4 a a h- 4 Filed Dec. 5,1963 INVENTOR.

ROBERT E. GRISBROOK BY W M ATTORNEY 1965 R. B. GRISBROOK 3,178,102

MOTOR-COMPRESSOR UNIT Filed Dec. 5, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AT'a'ORNEYUnited States Patent 3,178,102 MGTGR-CBMPRESSOR UNl'l Robert B.Grlsbroolr, 594 Gederson Lane, W arson Woods 22, Mo.

Filed Dec. 5, 1963, er. No. 328,223 6 Claims. (Cl. fill-439) Thisinvention relates in general to fluid compressors, and moreparticularly, to a unitary compressor-motor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a compressor-motorunit integrally combining a compressor and a motor having a common driveshaft, thereby resolving the heretofore accepted problem of effecting areliable coupling between compressors and motors driving same.

It is another object of the present invention to provide acompressonmotor unit wherein both the motor portion and the compressorportion are of the sliding vane type with fluid pressure being utilizedto provide the motive force for driving a common shaft for saidcompressor and motor portions.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide acompressor-motor unit having a common shaft and wherein the motorportion is of the multiple stage, sliding vane type.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide acompressor-motor unit which may be compactly disposed within a singlecasing; which has wide application as a component of refrigeration orair-conditioning and heating systems; which comprehends markedsimplicity of parts and being, hence, resistant to breakdown; which ismost economic in both production and in operation; and which operates ina most durable, efficient and reliable manner.

Other objects and details of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings (two sheets) wherein- FIGURE 1 is a schematic longitudinalsection of a motor-compressor constructed in accordance with andembodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line2-2 of FIGURE 1 but being rotated counterclockwise through an angle ofapproximately forty-five degrees.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view taken sub stantially on the line3-3 of FIGURE 1 but being rotated counterclockwise through an angle ofapproximately forty-five degrees.

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE1 but being rotated clockwise through an angle substantially forty-fivedegrees.

Referring now by reference characters to the drawings which illustratethe preferred embodiment of the present invention, A designates amotor-compressor unit comprising a housing 1 composed of a cylindricalshell 2 secured at its ends to end bells 3, 4. Provided intermediatelyof housing 1, being suitably rigidly secured on their peripherealsurfaces at opposite end portions of shell 2 are annular separatorplates 5, 6, the former defining with end hell 3 an oil reservoir '7 andthe latter cooperating with end hell 4 to define a vapor chamber 8. Saidplates 5, 6 are centrally bored to provide bearings for a main shaft 9which is coaxial with housing 1 and being adapted, by means of itsbearings, for rotative movement. Said shaft 9 projects slightly beyondseparator plate 6 and into chamber 8, having mounted on its projectingend a centrifugal oil separator 10 for purposes presently appearing. Atits opposite end shaft 9 is slightly reduced, as at 11, for extensionbeyond separator plate for supporting for rotation therewith a pluralityof radially extending impeliidlddll Patented Apr. 13, 1965 "ice lervanes 12. for reception within the oil reservoir 7; said shaft 9 beingprovided with an axial bore 13 extending from the end of said shaftcarrying said impeller vanes to a point proximate the opposite end whichconstitutes an oil passage; there being a plurality of ports 14projecting radially from said axial bore 13 at spaced points along shaftfor distribution of lubricant to the unit.

Provided between separator plates 5, 6 are partition or separator plates15, 16, both being of annular configuration but being of reduceddiameter relative to said separator plates 5, 6 for presentation inspaced relationship along their periphery to the confronting portions ofthe inner face of shell 2 for purposes presently appearing. Partitions15, 16 are provided with central openings 17, 18, respectively, whichare in registering relationship for extension therethrough of shaft 9but which openings have a diameter slightly greater than the outsidediameter of shaft 9 for reception of lubricant from adjacent ports tofacilitate distribution of such lubricant throughout the system.Fartition 16 being disposed between separator plate 6 and partitionco-operates with the former together with the intervening portions ofhousing 1 to define a compartment 19 and similarly co-operates withpartition 15 to define a compartment 2%; said compartment 2% being ofgreater extent longitudinally of shaft 9 than compartment 19. Saidcompartments 19, 2t con stitute the motor portion of unit A which is ofthe multistage sliding vane type. As will be described, the first andsecond stages of said motor portions are received within compartments19, 2% respectively, but it is apparent that a greater number of stagesmay be as easily utilized. Thus, the two stage character of the motorportion herein described is far purposes of illustration only.

Disposed Within each compartment 19, 2% are annular stators 21, 22 whichformer abut on their opposite faces against separator plate 6 andpartition 16 and which latter similarly abut against partitions 15, 16;there being a plurality of circumferentially disposed elongatedfastening members b, such as bolts, which integrate said stators andsaid partitions and separator plates into a rigid unit. Said stators 21,22 on their outer peripheral surfaces are aligned with partitions 15, 16and are, hence, in spaced relationship to the confronting portions ofshell 1 so as to create .therebetween an annular transfer chamber 0.Each stator 21, 22 is provided with aligned bores 23, 24, respectively,which are eccentric with respect to shaft 9 which extends therethrough.Provided within each bore 23, 24 is a rotor 25, 26, respectively, eachof which is suitably mounted, as by keys k, upon shaft 9 for rotationtherewith; said rotors 25, 26 having like axial extent as the respectivestators 21, 22. Each rotor 25, 26 is provided with a plurality of radialslots 27 opening at their outer ends for slideably receiving vanes 28,which latter are urged radially outwardly by springs 29 suitably mountedin the base portion of said slots 27. Due to the eccentric dispositionof rotors Z5, 26 with respect to bores 23, 24, respectively, said vanes28 will slide within their respective slots 27 in a manner responsive tothe momentary distance between the extremities of the vanes and theconfronting face portion of bores 23, 24. It will thus be seen that theouter faces of rotors 25, 26 and the inner faces of bores 23, 2 ofstators 21, 22, respectively, define variable chambers 30, 31,respectively.

Projecting through end hell 4 is a conduit 32 leading from a vaporsource such as a boiler, which conduit extends through an opening 33 inseparator plate 6 for communication at its inner end with a vapor inletpassage 34 formed in stator 21. Said inlet passage 34 communicates witha port 35 opening into chamber 3% at a point in immediate adjacency torotor (FIGURE 2) so that vapor admitted to chamber 39 will be permittedgradual expansion as the volume of chamber 34 increases, such a vaporimpinging upon vanes 28 to provide the motive force for effectingrotation of shaft 9. Recessed in the inner face of stator 21 is anarcuate outlet port 36, one extremity of which is separated from inletport 35 by an intervening portion 37 of stator 21 in surface contiguitywith rotor 25 constituting what might be termed the closed portion ofchamber 39. Communicating with out let port 36 is a passage 38 whichprogresses radially of stator 21 and then is directed axially forregistration with an opening 39 extending through partition 16; whichopening registers with the axial portion of an inlet passage 49 providedin stator 22. Said passage 49 incorporates a radial portion 41 directedtoward chamber 31 and communicating therewith through a port 42. Saidport 42 communicates with chamber 31 at a point wherein the relatedrotor 2t; is in immediate spaced relationship so that vapor admittedinto said chamber 31 will tend to gradually expand in driving shaft 9 byimpingement against vanes 28. Formed within the inner face of stator 22is an'arcuate vapor outlet port 43, separated from inlet port 42 by anintermediate portion 44 of stator 22 which is in surface contact withthe respective rotor 26 so as to thereby efiec'tively prevent a shortcircuiting between said ports. At the end of port 43, remote from statorportion 44, the said port 43 communicates with the inner end of aradially extending outlet passage 45; which latter at its outer endopens into transfer chamber and communicates with vapor chamber 8 bymeans of a duct 46 formed in separator plate 6.

Thus, it will be seen that pressurized vapor, as from a boiler, or likesource, is fed to the motor portion of unit A for driving engagementagainst the vanes 28 of first stage rotor 25 and then against the vanes28 of the second stage rotor 26 so that the fluid pressure is transduced into mechanical energy with resultant rotation of shaft 9. Thespent vapor is directed through transfer chamber c, into chamber 8 foremission from unit A through a discharge conduit 47 Partition 15 andseparator plate together with the intervening portions of shell 2 definea compartment 43 for the compressor portion of unit A. Disposed withincompartment 48 is an annular stator 49 which abuts on its end faceagainst partition and separator plate 5 and having a like diameter aspartition 15 so that the same is spaced at its edges from the inner faceof shell 2 for creating therebetween a continuation of transfer chamber0. Stator 49 is also engaged by fastener eleents b which engageseparator plate 5. Stator 49 is provided with a circular bore 50 withinwhich is provided a rotor 51 suitably mounted upon shaft 9 as by keys52. The axis of bore 5% is offset, or eccentric, with respect to thelongitudinal axis of shaft 9 so that the outer face of rotor 51 and theconfronting inner face of bore 59 jointly define a variable chamber 53.It will be noted that rotor 51 is of like axial extent as the associatedstator 49 for extension between partition 15 and separator plate 5.Rotor 51 is of the sliding vane type having a plurality of radiallyextending slots 54 for receiving radially slideable vanes 55 which areurged outwardly of rotor 51 by means of spring elements 56 mountedwithin the base of each slot 54. Extending through end bell 3 andseparator plate 5, and into stator 49, is a compressor inlet conduit 57for feeding the vapors to be compressed to the compressor portion; saidconduit 57 leading as from an evaporator for conducting refrigerantvapors for compression. Said conduit 57 registers with a passage 58within stator 49, extending longitudinally thereof. Said passage 58terminates spacedly from partition 15 and communicates with an enlargedinlet port 59 formed in the inner face of stator 49 for effectingcommunication with chamber 5 3. The vapors admitted .to chamber 53 willexert a driving force upon vanes 55 but will also 3e subject to acompressive action as the same move 1hrough the declining volume portionof chamber 53 for :mission through an outlet port 69 formed in stator'49 in the reduced portion of chamber 53. It will be seen that outletport 60 is effectively separated from inlet port 59 by an intermediatebarrier-forming portion 61 of stator 49, which surfacewise engages rotor51. Outwardly of port 60 and communicating with one side portion thereofis a radial duct 62 formed in stator49 which is in direct communicationwith chamber c. Presented across port 69 is a resilient closure 63 asconstituted of a leaf spring having one end secured, as by a rivet 64,within the base of duct 62 (FIGURE 4). Thus, through its normal biasclosure 63 will occlude port 60 but upon impingement thereagainst by thecompressed vapors moving through chamber 53 the same will be caused tospring outwardly allowing of discharge of the compressed vapors intoduct 62 for reception within transfer chamber 0. Therefore, compressedvapors will not escape from the compressor portion of unit A unless thepressure of the same is of such amount as to effect an outward urging ordislodgment of closure 63.

The compressed vapors received within chamber c will necessarilycommingle with the spent vapors from the motor portion of unit A and bejointly discharged through conduit 47 as for conductance to a condenser.

As shown hereinabove, the motor and compressor portions of unit A havea. common shaft which, having an adequate torque applied thereon by thevarious stages of the motor portion, serves for driving the rotor of thecompressor portion to effect compression of the vapors discharged intochamber 53. Thus, the present invention in a single comprehensive unitcontains operating elements which have heretofore consisted of complexin dividual units, such as a compressor and an electric motor or in thefew instances where integrated systems were attempted, unsatisfactorycoupling means were adopted in an effort to interengage the individualshafts of the motor portion and the compressor portion. Consequently,compressor-motor unit A constitutes a marked advance in the art.

Unit A may be continuously and reliably lubricated by means of a system,the primary operating components of which are disposed within oilreservoir '7 which effectively forms a sump. An oil intake tube 65within said reservoir '7 is affixed to a housing'66 provided with an oilchamber 67 within which impeller vanes 12 rotate to create a region ofreduced pressure within the eye of said vanes for conducing to the flowof oil through axial bore 13 of shaft 9 for radial disbursementtherefrom. Communicating with chamber 67 through a passage 68 is a valvechamber 69 containing a check valve '75 urged into upwardly seateddisposition by a spring '71 to allow return of oil 'to reservoir 7 inthe event of accidental increase in pressure above a predeterminedvalue. Oil separator 16 being rotated by shaft 9 serves to separate fromthe discharged vapors any oil which may have been inadvertentlyentrained therein.

Although FIGURE 1, which is a schematic view, presents unit A inhorizontal disposition, it is contemplated that in actual use said unitwill be vertically disposed with vapor chamber 8 being at the upper endso that a gravitational factoris accorded any separated oil for returnto reservoir 7.

It should be understood that changes and modifications in the formation,construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of themotor-compressor unit may be made and substituted for these herein shownand described without departing from the nature and principle of myinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A motor-compressor unit comprising means defining a cylindricalhousing, means provided in said housing for defining at least first andsecond motor compartments and at least one compressor compartment, saidpartition means including a first member between said first and secondmotor compartments and a second partition member between said secondmotor compartment and said compressor compartment, a single main shaftextending axially of said housing and through said compartments, meansfor iournaling said shaft provided in said partitioning means, a statorfixedly mounted in each motor compartment and said compressorcompartment, each stator having a bore through which said shaft extends,a rotor provided within the bore of each stator and being mounted uponsaid shaft for rotation therewith, vanes mounted on each rotor, each ofsaid stators and said first and second partition members being spacedthroughout their outer faces from the confronting interior face of saidhousing to define therewith an intervening circumferential passage,means for introducing motive fluid to said motor compartments foreffecting a driving force upon the vanes of the rotors therein, meansfor introducing fluid for compression to said compressor compartment,first and second fluid discharge means for flow of fluid from said motorcompartments and said compressor compartment into said circumferentialpassage.

2. A motor-compressor unit as defined in claim 1 and furthercharacterized by the stators in the first and second motor compartmentsand said first partition member having a continuous passage axiallyparallel to the axis of said housing, the fluid discharge means for saidmotor compartments comprising a passage provided in the stator in saidsecond compartment extending radially of said stator.

3. A motor-compressor unit as defined in claim 1 and furthercharacterized by the bore of each stator being of greater diameter thansaid shaft and being axially eccentric thereto, said vanes on each rotorbeing radially slideable thereof, said rotors being of constant diameterfor defining with the associated stator a variable fluid chamher.

4. A motor-compressor unit as defined in claim 1 and furthercharacterized by said main shaft having an axial recess extendingsubstantially the length of said shaft, a source of lubricant, means forintroducing said lubricant into said axial recess, said shaft furtherhaving a plurality of longitudinally spaced radially extending portscommunieating at their inner ends with said recess for radially outwardflow therethrough of said lubricant for lubricating purposes.

5. A motor-compressor unit comprising means defining a cylindricalhousing, means provided in said housing for defining at least first andsecond motor compartments and at least one compressor compartment, saidpartitioning means including a first partition member between said firstand second motor compartments and a second partition member between saidsecond motor compartment and said compressor compartment, a single mainshaft extending longitudinally of said housing, means provided in saidpartitioning means for journaling of said shaft, a stator fixedlypresented in each motor compartment and said compressor compartment,each stator having a bore through which said shaft extends, said statorbores being of greater diameter than said shaft and being axiallyeccentric thereto, a constant diameter rotor provided within the bore ofeach stator and being mounted upon said shaft for rotation therewith,said stators and rotors being coextensive with the length of the relatedcompartments, radially slideable vanes mounted on each rotor, the statorand rotor of said first compartment being of less extent lengthwise ofsaid housing than said stator and rotor of said second motorcompartment, a source of motive fluid, said stator in said first motorcompartment having a motive fluid inlet, means connecting said motivefluid inlet and said source of motive fluid, said stators and said firstand second partition members being of less diameter than the insidediameter of said housing for defining a circumferential fluid transferpassage being coextensive with said first and second motor compartmentsand said compressor compartment, there being fluid passage meansconnecting said stators and said first and second motor compartments,said stator in said second motor compartment having a radially extendingdis charge passage for discharge of motive fluid therefrom into saidcircumferential transfer passage, a source of fluid to be compressed, afluid inlet provided in said stator in said compressor compartment,means connecting said last named inlet and said source of fluid to becompressed, said compressor compartment stator having a radiallyextending fluid discharge port opening into said transfer passage, andmeans for conducting said dis charged motive fluid and fluid to becompressed exteriorly of said housing.

6. A motor-compressor unit as defined in claim 5 and furthercharacterized by the motive fluid discharge outlet opening into saidtransfer passage at a point substantially degrees from the point ofopening thereinto of said discharge port for said compressed fluid.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 917,724 4/09Elliott 91--66 1,433,733 10/22 Lindsay 103-418 2,415,011 1/47 Hubacker230-139 2,780,070 2/57 Meade 103-419 X LAURENCE V. EFNER, PrimaryExaminer.

ROBERT M. WALKER, Examiner.

1. A MOTOR-COMPRESSOR UNIT COMPRISING MEANS DEFINING A CYLINDRICALHOUSING, MEANS PROVIDED IN SAID HOUSING FOR DEFINING AT LEAST FIRST ANDSECOND MOTOR COMPARTMENTS AND AT LEAST ONE COMPRESSOR COMPARTMENT, SAIDPARTITION MEANS INCLUDING A FIRST MEMBER BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND SECONDMOTOR COMPARTMENTS AND A SECOND PARTITION MEMBER BETWEEN SAID SECONDMOTOR COMPARTMENT AND SAID COMPRESSOR COMPARTMENT, A SINGLE MAIN SHAFTEXTENDING AXIALLY OF SAID HOUSING AND THROUGH SAID COMPARTMENTS, MEANSFOR JOURNALING SAID SHAFT PROVIDED IN SAID PARTITIONING MEANS, A STATORFIXEDLY MOUNTED IN EACH MOTOR COMPARTMENT AND SAID COMPRESSORCOMPARTMENT, EACH STATOR HAVING A BORE THROUGH WHICH SAID SHAFT EXTENDS,A ROTOR PROVIDED WITHIN THE BORE OF EACH STATOR AND BEING MOUNTED UPONSAID SHAFT FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, VANES MOUNTED ON EACH ROTOR, EACH OFSAID STATORS AND SAID FIRST AND SECOND PARTITION MEMBERS BEING SPACEDTHROUGOUT THEIR OUTER FACES FROM THE CONFRONTING INTERIOR FACE OF SAIDHOUSING TO DEFINE THEREWITH AN INTERVENING CIRCUMFERENTIAL PASSAGE,MEANS FOR INTRODUCING MOTIVE FLUID TO SAID MOTOR COMPARTMENTS FOREFFECTING A DRIVING FORCE UPON THE VANES OF THE ROTORS THEREIN, MEANSFOR INTRODUCING FLUID FOR COMPRESSION TO SAID COMPRESSOR COMPARTMENT,FIRST AND SECOND FLUID DISCHARGE MEANS FOR FLOW OF FLUID FROM SAID MOTORCOMPARTMENTS AND SAID COMPRESSOR COMPARTMENT INTO SAID CIRCUMFERENTIALPASSAGE.